Stalin released from jail

Madras Mayor and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi's son M K Stalin was released from the central prison in Madurai on Saturday morning.

Stalin was released at 0945 hours (IST) after his advocate handed over to jail authorities a copy of the conditional bail granted by Principal Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar at Madras on Friday in the alleged multi-crore 'flyover' scam.

As Stalin came out of the prison, his brother M K Azhagiri and hundreds of DMK activists gave him a rousing welcome. They also burst crackers to celebrate his release.

Stalin, the prime accused in the case, surrendered before the principal sessions judge in Madras on June 30 soon after the arrest of former chief minister M Karunanidhi in connection with the scam.

Stalin was remanded to judicial custody till July 10 and lodged in the central prison in Madurai.

Principal Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar had on Friday granted bail to Stalin, two former DMK ministers and four others, arrested in connection with the scam.

While granting bail, the judge observed that 'the way in which the complaint had been lodged, First Information Report (FIR) registered and time taken to decide about the arrests, without examining witnesses, and not interrogating them (the accused) after their arrest would go to show that the FIR had been lodged with an ulterior motive and was meant to put them behind bars immediately'.

At Madurai, Stalin told reporters that the judge had portrayed a clear picture of the nature of the case filed against him.

"The judge's observations and questions to the government pleader are enough to show what type of case has been filed against me", he said.

He also criticised Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for her efforts to dissolve the Madras Corporation Council from the day she took office. "They are making Herculean efforts to find reasons for dissolving the civic body," he said.

Stalin said he would be very much in Madras to face the case and would not give lame excuses like back pain and knee catch to escape arrest.

Stalin said Jayalalithaa, who could not even contest the assembly elections due to her conviction in corruption cases, was trying to frame false charges against the DMK and the flyover case was one example.

Justifying his seeking conditional bail, Stalin said, the government had issued a notice seeking his explanation as to why the Madras Corporation should not be dissolved within 30 days. "I should be out of jail to give my explanation."

Asked whether the issue of arresting the DMK chief and others would be taken up during the next assembly session, he said it will be known during the assembly session.

Talking about the conditions in the jail, Stalin said, the prison was overcrowded but the officials were cordial. "We were not treated badly," he added.